JB Hydroponics:

Cultivating organic in 50L containers

JB Hydroponics is known as a gutter and substrate supplier, but the company in Maasdijk also delivers containers all over the world. Hydroponic cultivation keeps on growing, both in the Netherlands and worldwide and JB Hydroponics offers tailor-made solutions for those growers. Since 2017 they offer a gutter system with large containers with a capacity of 50 liters. Jack, JB Hydroponics: "For normal cultivation the 50-liter containers are too big, but legislation in Canada makes it possible to grow organically in this system."

The system was developed after a request from a large Canadian tomato grower. In 2017 the so-called JB Hydroponics Organic Growth System was delivered for the first time. Jack: "In order to be able to call your cultivation organic in Canada, at least 60 liters of substrate is required per square meter, which is easy to do with this system." In the Netherlands, organic vegetables have to be cultivated on soil.

RecirculationThe steel gutters in the system originated in rose cultivation, but are now available for all possible crops. The gutters make it possible to grow in a recirculating manner. Jack: "We make steel cultivation systems, but we also produce containers, which we draw, develop and make in consultation with our customers."

International interestMeanwhile, a second project in Canada is being delivered to a cucumber grower. There is also interest from France. Jack: "At the GreenTech a French grower approached us, who already grows in containers. He still does that with homemade trenches with foil in the ground, and with our system he can continue to grow in containers, but now straight as an arrow.

The gutters are custom-made in the greenhouse. Jack: "We use a machine to make the gutters the right length in the greenhouse. This way we cover the entire greenhouse from front to back in one go. First the steel is shipped to the location, then the machine, followed by our staff. This ensures that the gutters are well-positioned in the greenhouse."